2022 Lightning
Tasting Notes
Our 2022 Lightning is a well-balanced blend of 80% Viognier and 20% Chardonnay, fermented and aged exclusively in French oak barrels. Its aromatic profile includes notes of apple butter, poached pear, and candied lemon, complemented by subtle hints of smoked caramel. On the palate, it delivers a luscious, creamy texture with harmonious acidity, unveiling flavors of roasted apple, toasted almonds, crème brûlée, banana bread, and marshmallow cream. The wine concludes with a lengthy, smooth finish. It can be enjoyed through 2035, with the ideal maturity around 2029. To fully appreciate its qualities, serve it at 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Vineyard Designation
100% Estate Grown
Vintage Notes
The 2022 vintage in the Yakima Valley was a bit of a roller coaster. A mild winter extended into spring with early frost periods and winter-like conditions in April. The cool spring delayed bud break by a few weeks and caused delayed growth in the vineyard as we moved into summer. Each vineyard block was meticulously managed to ensure a ripe crop by harvest. We lowered clusters per vine and allowed for more sunlight exposure. By mid-July, temperatures finally started warming up and led to record growth in a short amount of time. Fortunately, warm summer temperatures extended into fall, helping to lengthen the growing season and allowing the grapes to continue to ripen. Harvest ended up being delayed approximately three weeks from a typical year. We gratefully did not experience any fall frost events, so the grapes had extended hang time on the vines to achieve optimal ripeness and excellent flavor development. Overall, the 2022 vintage displays ripe flavors, bountiful fruit aromas, and balanced acidity. The wines can be enjoyed in their youth, or they can cellar for many years to come.
Winemaking Notes
Much like all of our reserve-tier wines, the Lightning blend begins in our estate vineyard where strategically-selected Chardonnay and Viognier blocks were cropped to low yields to produce more concentrated flavors and depth of the wine. Both varietals were harvested at optimal maturity in late September. The grapes were sent directly to the press as whole clusters for a gentle pressing, cold settled for 72 hours, and then clean racked to French oak barrels where it was fermented cool. The wine was closely monitored during malolactic fermentation to ensure full malolactic comple- tion without producing diacetyl (buttery flavors). The wine was aged for three months “sur lie” with bâtonnage performed twice a month to help build body and soften the texture of the wine. Overall, this blend was aged for 11 months in exclusive French oak barrels (90% new, 10% 2-year-old French oak) before being prepped for bottling.
Food Pairing
Paella
Lobster Cioppino
South Indian Chicken Curry
Fontina or Camembert
- Varietal Composition: 80% Viognier and 20% Chardonnay
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Aging / Barrel Program: 11 months in 100% French Oak (90% New, 10% 2-Year)
- Cases Produced: 125
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- pH: 3.57
- Acidity: 5.7 g/L
- Ageability: Enjoy now through 2035 with optimal maturity in 2029 Serve at 50-55°F.